MP procures only 46 pc of iodised salt requirement: expert

Bhopal, Mar 7 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh's iodised salt requirement is 3.24 lakh tonnes but the state procures only 46 per cent of this amount, according to Rajasthan's Deputy Commissioner (Salt) M A Ansari.

''This state obtains its major salt share from Rajasthan and Gujarat and more than half of it arrives by road. However, movement of iodised salt is not monitored by any agency,'' he said here yesterday while addressing a meeting, on the use of iodised salt, organised by the Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Heath Association and supported by UNICEF, as per a release.

Joint Director (Health and Family Welfare) B N Chauhan pointed out that iodine deficiency led to retarded growth.

''The problem is acute in hilly areas. Some rural areas of Betul, Hoshangabad, Badwani, Khargone, Dindori, Chhatarpur, Sagar and Tikamgarh have such deficiency. Children suffering from iodine deficiency have low IQ levels,'' he added.

The Indore Medical College's Dr Sanjay Dixit shared an August 2004 ORG-MARG study on salt trade in Madhya Pradesh. It revealed that 339 wholesalers control the trade and ten districts contribute about 80 per cent of total inflow. Indore has 30 per cent inflow and only 24 per cent is adequately iodised, the release added.

UNI AC SHB SP1134